Thales Alenia Space to Build Bangabandhu Telecommunication Satellite for Bangladesh

SINGAPORE, Nov. 12, 2015 (Antara/PRNewswire) -- Thales Alenia Space announced today that it has signed a contract with BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission) to build the Bangabandhu telecommunications satellite, successfully winning the contract against an international field of competitors. This satellite will narrow the digital divide, taking broadcasting and telecommunication services to rural areas and introducing profitable services, including direct-to-home services, across the country and over the region.

As the prime programme contractor of this turnkey system, Thales Alenia Space is charged with the design, production, testing and the delivery in orbit of the satellite.

This satellite is based on the flight proven heritage of Thales Alenia Space with 81 Spacebus already ordered and more than 600 cumulated years in orbit. Built on the upgraded Spacebus 4000B2 platform, Bangabandhu will be fitted with 26 Ku-Band and 14 C-Band transponders. The satellite's coverage zone encompasses Bangladesh and the surrounding region. This system will offer capacity in Ku-Band over Bangladesh and its territorial waters off the Bay of Bengal, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Indonesia and will also provide capacity in C-Band over the whole region.

Thales Alenia Space will also take charge of the ground segment, which will leverage the SpaceOps tools for mission planning and monitoring. It includes two ground facility buildings gathering Satellite Control and a Network Operations Center based on the SpaceGate global solution. Spectra Engineers Ltd., Thales' partner in Bangladesh, is in charge of the civil work of the ground facilities.

To be launched in 2017, Bangladesh's first satellite will be positioned at 119.1 degree East longitude.

"Thales Alenia Space is proud to have been selected by the BTRC for the first iconic Bangladeshi telecom satellite. This satellite, proudly identified with the nation's founding father Bangabandhu, is a key milestone for Bangladesh's country telecommunications development and a fantastic support to the national economic growth and recognition in Asia. Thales Alenia Space is honored to be associated with the country's great expansion plan," said Jean Loic Galle, CEO of Thales Alenia Space.

"The contract for this telecommunications satellite signed with Thales Alenia Space, the key European player in space telecommunication, marks a major turning point in the history of Bangladesh, not only reducing the digital divide, but also generating business development and creating jobs," said Md Golam Razzaque, Bangabandhu, Project Director of BTRC. "We hope to carry out the launch on the 46th anniversary of our country's Victory Day, which will be on December 16^th 2017."

About Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%), is a key European player in space telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, exploration and orbital infrastructures. Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio form the two parent companies' "Space Alliance", which offers a complete range of services and solutions. Because of its unrivaled expertise in dual (civil/military) missions, constellations, flexible payloads, altimetry, meteorology and high-resolution optical and radar instruments, Thales Alenia Space is the natural partner to countries that want to expand their space program. The company posted consolidated revenues in excess of 2 billion euros in 2014, and has 7,500 employees in eight countries. www.thalesaleniaspace.com

Thales Alenia Space Press Contacts:

Sandrine Bielecki	Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94	sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com
Chrystelle Dugimont	Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 74 06	chrystelle.dugimont@thalesaleniaspace.com